Chemical composition and anti-inflammatory activity of essential oils from resin of Commiphora species

ABSTRACT. Essential oils (EOs) were prepared by the hydro-distillation technique from the resins of four Commiphora species and analyzed by GC-MS. Major constituents of EOs were a-copaene (22.71%), β-caryophyllene (28.03%) and β-caryophyllene oxide (13.89%) for C. sphaerocarpa; a-pinene (29.1%) for C. africana; hexadecane (14.1%) for C. habessinica and δ-cadinene (31.5%) for C. schimperi. We investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of EOs in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages by measuring nitric oxide (NO). The effect in mRNA or protein level after EO treatment were evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Among four Commiphora species, C. sphaerocarpa EO demonstrated a significant inhibition of LPS by 27.2±3.6% at 10 μg/mL and 62.3±5.2% at 20 μg/mL. C. sphaerocarpa EO inhibited LPS mediated iNOS over expression in both protein and mRNA level with dose dependent manner. It inhibited phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38, ATF2. The enhanced anti-inflammatory activity of the EO of the plant was due to HO-1 expression by ROS dependent Nrf2 activation in RAW264.7 cells. These findings indicate C. sphaerocarpa EO inhibits the pro-inflammatory responses by inhibiting MAPK/ATF2, and triggering ROS/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. Therefore, C. sphaerocarpa EO could have potential for useful therapeutic candidate preventing and treating inflammatory diseases.   KEY WORDS: GC-MS, Anti-inflammatory, C. africana, C. habessinica, C. sphaerocarpa, C. schimperi   Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2022, 36(2), 399-415.                                                               DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v36i2.13                                                     &nbsp

Studies of transition metal complexes of herbicidal compounds. I: Transition metal complexes of 2-methylthio-4-azido-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine (aziprotryn)

Article

<b>Studies on transition metal complexes of herbicidal compounds. II: Transition metal complexes of derivatized 2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-<i>s</i>-triazine (atrazine)</b>

2(2-Hydroxyethyl)hydrazino-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine (HEATZ), a derivative of 2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine, atrazine (ATZ) – a well known herbicide has been studied for complex formation with cobalt(II), nickel(II), and copper(II). Analytical, conductance, thermal, and spectral studies suggest that HEATZ is a monobasic NNO donor and it forms binuclear octahedral metal complexes, possessing alkoxide bridging. Cobalt(II) complex exhibits thermochromism. Antimicrobial studies on E. coli and S. aureus show the absence of growth inhibitory activities for HEATZ and its metal complexes which is attributed to the combined effect of derivatization of ATZ and metal complexation

Antiproliferative Effect of Sterols from Resin of Commiphora habessinica

Commiphora habessinica resin is used traditionally to treat various diseases in Ethiopia. In this study the cytotoxic effects of chloroform fraction and cholesterol and lathosterol isolated from the chloroform fraction of the resin of C. habessinica were evaluated. In the cytotoxicity assay on A549, A2780, MIA-Paca-2, and SNU-638 cell lines, the chloroform fraction showed cytotoxicity ranging from 0.77-3.35 ?g/ml. The chloroform fraction significantly inhibited cell proliferation of A549, A2780, MIA-PaCa-2 and SNU-638, with dose-dependent relation in vitro. The chloroform fraction was more sensitive and has a strongest net growth as percent control effects on A549 cell lines. A mixture of cholesterol : lathosterol (47.9% : 52.1%) exhibited a moderate cytotoxicity which is greater than the individual compound towards A549 and A2780 with IC50 of 13.77 and 20.36 ?g/ml, respectively that might be due to synergetic effect. The GC-MS analysis of chloroform fraction of the resin showed presence of pentacyclic triterpenes as major component (62.98%), sesquiterpene (4.27%), phytosterols (1.53%) and others in trace amount. The isolated compounds from the chloroform fraction were analysed by spectroscopic techniques such as NMR and MS

Evapotranspiration and Crop Coefficient of Sorghum ( L.) at Melkassa Farmland, Semi-Arid Area of Ethiopia

Sorghum has an enormous role in the economy of sorghum-growing nations. Supplying a precise amount of water to a crop based on crop needs is the main agenda in implementing water-saving agriculture. Non-weighing type lysimeters were used to determine actual crop evapotranspiration and crop coefficient of sorghum at the experimental farm of Melkassa Agricultural Research Center situated in the semi-arid area of Ethiopia. Soil-water balance approaches were applied to obtain actual crop evapotranspiration, while the Penman-Monteith technique was used to determine reference evapotranspiration. Growth stages-wise crop coefficient was computed as a ratio of actual crop evapotranspiration to reference evapotranspiration. The total seasonal sorghum actual crop evapotranspiration during the 2017 and 2018 experimental years was 358.6 and 377.54 mm, respectively. The 2 years average sorghum actual crop evapotranspiration was 368.07 mm. The mean locally developed actual crop coefficient values of 0.55, 1.15, and 0.59 were observed for the initial, mid, and end-season, respectively. The FAO-adjusted crop coefficient values for mid and end-season were 1.01 and 0.52, respectively. The developed Kc values considerably differed from the FAO-adjusted Kc values. So, the determination of actual crop evapotranspiration and crop coefficient for crop growth at local climate conditions is vital for decision-making concerning water management in the area where irrigation is practiced

Anti-proliferative activity of a novel tricyclic triterpenoid acid from Commiphora africana resin against four human cancer cell lines

Myrrh, a resin derived from the damaged bark of Commiphora genus, has traditionally been used for treatment of various human diseases, such as amenorrhea, ache, tumors, fever, and stomach pains. In spite of this widespread use of the myrrh in Ethiopia, the pharmacological activity and chemical composition have not been studied in detail. A new tricyclic triterpene acid (3S,4S,14S,7E,17E,21Z)-3,30-dihydroxypodioda-7,17,21-trien-4-carboxylic acid (commafric A) has been isolated from a crude methanolic extract of Commiphora africana (A. Rich.) Engl. resin along with the known pentacyclic triterpene α-amyrin. The structure of commafric A was characterized using diferent spectroscopic techniques such as 1D and 2D NMR, IR, and VCD combined with computations. The anti-proliferative activity of both isolated compounds was evaluated using SRB based colorimetric cellular assay against four human cancer cell lines. Etoposide was used as a positive control. Commafric A showed signifcant anti-proliferative efects against non-small cell lung cancer (A549) with IC50 values of 4.52 μg/ml. The pentacyclic triterpene α-amyrin showed a weak antiproliferative activity against A2780 (ovarian cancer), MIA-PaCa-2 (pancreatic cancer), and SNU638 (stomach cancer) cell lines tested with IC50 values ranging 9.28 to 28.22 μg/ml. Commafric A possessed anti-proliferative activity against non-small cell lung cancer (A549), which suggests that commafric A has potential to be further optimized being a lead compound in the search for new drugs against cancer diseases